MLB, PBATS & Song for Charlie

Whether you're in the majors, minors or working your way up, understanding these facts could save lives in your clubhouse and community:

• Perfect counterfeits of prescription pills are everywhere, and most are made with deadly chemicals like fentanyl

• Fake pills look exactly like real prescriptions—OxyContin, Percocet, Xanax, Adderall, Vicodin, Norco

• They're sold on social media, on campuses and around town

• Street drugs like cocaine, heroin and MDMA are being laced and faked too

• Athletes face unique pressures to perform and recover

• Young athletes are prime targets due to sports injuries and stress

• Over 4,000 Americans under 25 died last year from these substances

The illegal drug supply now contains numerous deadly adulterants and substitute chemicals. Here’s what you need to know:

• Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams (about 8-10 grains of sand) can be lethal

• Nitazenes—some two to ten times more potent than fentanyl—are showing up more as fentanyl precursors become harder to obtain

• Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that’s also in the mix these days and makes overdoses harder to reverse

• Medetomidine is an even higher potency veterinary sedative than xylazine

• In addition to being used to make fake prescription pills, these chemicals and others are also mixed into or sold as cocaine, heroin and other powdered street drugs

• Combinations make overdoses unpredictable and more dangerous

• Standard drug tests don't catch many of these substances

Bottom line: Any pill not obtained directly from a pharmacy through a valid prescription—and any street drug—poses serious risk in today’s drug landscape.

Use these ready-to-share social posts to help protect young athletes from fake pills and fentanyl:

Sample social post:

"Fake pills are killing young athletes. They look real but contain deadly fentanyl. Get the facts at songforcharlie.org #NoRandomPills"

Sample social video script:

"Hey everyone—fake pills are a real danger for young athletes. They look exactly like real prescriptions but contain lethal amounts of fentanyl. Protect yourself and your teammates: No random pills! Learn more at songforcharlie.org"

Open up the fentanyl conversation with these standalone slides or incorporate into your own presentation. We’ve got you covered.

Reach out to us about virtual and in-person events and training opportunities.

Together, we made a significant impact protecting young lives last season:

• More than 17,000 youth and families reached through stadium events.

• More than 364,000 people engaged through digital outreach.

• More than 1 million reached through media coverage.